The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-06-03

the advantage gained to Sunday-schools
by the study of the International lessons.
All the speeches were laudatory of this
system of instruction and in praise
of the excellent results accomplished by
its adoption. At least 100000 children
in all parts of the world study the same
lesson from the same portion of the Bible
every Sunday. DR.. Pond suggested that
each country, European and American,
have it's National convention yearly, and
that all unite in an International conven-
ton once every five years. B. T. Jacobs
made brief speech Of facetious charac-
ter The first regular session of the con-
vention begins at nine o'clock this morn
ing. Senator Colquitt, Of Georgia, will
preside.
This is the fifth international or tenth Ma
tional convention. At Indianapolis, in 1872
(where the uniform lessons were adopted, it
was decided to make the convention interna-
tional so far as to include the British North
American Provinces. The first international
convention was held al Baltimore in tho
second at Atlanta in 1878, the third at Toronto
in 1881, the fourth at Louisville in 1884, and the
fifth (the present convention) is now being held
in Chicago.
The convention is composed of delegates
from all the States and Territories of the
United States and the British North American
Provinces. The basis for the present conven-
ton is about one delegate for every 10000 of
population This would give the present
convention 1900 delegates. These delegates
are elected by the various State, Terri
torial and Provincial Union Sunday-school or
CARNATIONS, and are not chosen as denomina-
'tional representatives. The convention meets
once in three years to consider the work in all
parts of the country. The work is carried on
during the intervals between the conventions
by the executive committee of one member
from each State, Territory or Province. !.
During the last three years nineteen perma-
nent Sunday-school workers have contributed
an amount of time equal to sixty-five weeks
and have travelled over 10000 miles, The total
expenses for the whole amount to about g, 200,
or not more than three cents per mile, counting
nothing for living expenses. These visits have
extended from New England on the east
to Oregon and British Columbia on the
west and to Florida and Louisiana on
the south. The object of the visits is to arouse
enthusiasm, to secure organizations not only in
the State but in each County, to suggest better
methods, and in every way possible to improve
the work and secure and gather the children
and youth of the country into the Sunday
schools. At the present time the nine
States have organizations in every Coun-
ty. In Connecticut, New Jersey and
Maryland the organization extends to
every township Indiana and Illinois are
reckoned among the best organized States, and
in some respects Illinois stands at the head of
the list. One hundred county conventions and
more than 1000 township conventions are held
every year in that State The progress of the
Sunday school work in the United States has
been very great. The reports Tor the present
convention will show total of more than 100,0 900
Sunday schools, and S,500,OoO scholars In other
words, nearly one-sxth of the entire popu-
lation of the country is connected with the Sun
day-schools.
At the convention in 1872 it was decided to in
augurate the uniform lesson movement and a
committee of twelve was appointed to select
the lessons for the first seven years, from 1879
to 1879. Six years afterward at Atlanta a Sec
ond committee was appointed to pre-
pare the lessons for the next seven
years, from 1880 to 1886. The Louis
vile convention in 1884 appointed o new
committee and increased it to fourteen men,
bers. These gentlemen are to select the les
sons for the seven years from 1887 to 1897. Their
meetings are usually separate and distinct from
the convention meetings, but at this time the
Lesson Committee were called to meet at the
Grand Pacific Hotel in this city, the work be-
fore them being to select the lessons for 1889.
It is possible that some consideration will be
given to the suggestion that the convention be
made international in wider sense, that the
Sunday school workers of all lands be included
The London Sunday-school Union has sent one
of its honorary secretaries, Mr.. Edward Tow
ers, to be present at the sessions of this con-
vention Mr.. Towers will address the conven.
ton on the work in Great Britain, and on the
Continent Wednesday EVENING"